Hooker for 2021

[maxta]

Competing mail?

Compete with who ?
Just what I been told by someone with far more idea than I
We will see soon enough

 

[The better Robbo]

People wanting Cust to start must be delusional. The kid can't pass more than 5m. People on here were bagging Koroisau for his slow service, well times that by 10 for Custs' lollipop passes. He is an impact player and will be best utilised as a running hooker off the bench against tired defenders.
Don't get me wrong I rate Cust highly but just not as a starting hooker or even a starting 5/8 for that matter. He is a specialist utility and cover for injuries.

 

[Moops]

could be true, except for the last point. He was brought to Manly when he was 15, boarding with the Verrills in Avalon. He would have a taste of the Beaches lifestyle now, and Maitland may not look so attractive.

Aren't there beaches in Newcastle?

 

[manlyfan76]

Competing mail?

#FakeNews

 

[Budgie]

Croker is crap. Please feel free to throw this back at me every week of the season. I'd love it if there was any justification. Can't pass. Can't read a game. Turns into a puddle of wee under pressure.

 

[Shoe1]

Aren't there beaches in Newcastle?

I believe there are some :0)

 

[manly al]

Croker is crap. Please feel free to throw this back at me every week of the season. I'd love it if there was any justification. Can't pass. Can't read a game. Turns into a puddle of wee under pressure.

So you are saying that he is only one step away from the T N I tag , hope springs eternal .

 

[Woodsie]

But boy oh boy there’s going to be some pressure on him from the armchair coaches on here.

Just an observation Mark .. but on who should the pressure fall? .. Croker isn't picking himself at dummy half ...

.. and PSS ... I'm backing Croker to perform the role that he will be asked to play .. I think it will be limited with pretty precise instructions ..

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Just an observation Mark .. but on who should the pressure fall? .. Croker isn't picking himself at dummy half ...

.. and PSS ... I'm backing Croker to perform the role that he will be asked to play .. I think it will be limited with pretty precise instructions ..

He’ll cop it and so will Des for not having a valid 9 backup.

Yes I imagine he’ll be there to tackle and distribute the ball and bugger all else.

Will it get a job done , probably , will he win us any games , no chance.

 

[pjayz]

Just an observation Mark .. but on who should the pressure fall? .. Croker isn't picking himself at dummy half ...

.. and PSS ... I'm backing Croker to perform the role that he will be asked to play .. I think it will be limited with pretty precise instructions ..

Des will certainly keep it simple for him. He will have to.

 

[40 years an eagle]

Yes I imagine he’ll be there to tackle and distribute the ball and bugger all else.

That is all Matty Balin did...and did it very well...but it was a very different game back then. Ohh yeah, Matty is on staff now...maybe grooming the Frog.

 

[winnyason]

Croker is crap. Please feel free to throw this back at me every week of the season. I'd love it if there was any justification. Can't pass. Can't read a game. Turns into a puddle of wee under pressure.

Agree 1000 percent. Why we think he do the job while a court works our if Fainu guilty astounds me.
For starters has no vision can't put a player through a hole, defensive terrible a turnstile and kicking game will end watch this clown try 40/20 and miss all the time ?

 

[The better Robbo]

Agree 1000 percent. Why we think he do the job while a court works our if Fainu guilty astounds me.
For starters has no vision can't put a player through a hole, defensive terrible a turnstile and kicking game will end watch this clown try 40/20 and miss all the time ?

Can't tackle? But you want Cust to start??? Hmmmm

 

[The better Robbo]

He’ll cop it and so will Des for not having a valid 9 backup.

Yes I imagine he’ll be there to tackle and distribute the ball and bugger all else.

Will it get a job done , probably , will he win us any games , no chance.

When you have Turbo Chez Schuster Walker Foran Taupau Saab Suli Jake do we really need Croker to "win" us games?

 

[pjayz]

When you have Turbo Chez Schuster Walker Foran Taupau Saab Suli Jake do we really need Croker to "win" us games?

Look...stop it...just stop it. Stop using your personal football experience, familial insight, and logic to tell us expert interweb keyboard commentators that Croker is better than we think and he doesn't need to win us games. I don't want to hear it...la la la la la can't hear you la la la la.

I know what I talking about..Crocker = poo...tell me I'm wrong 'n stuff...yeah whatever big x footy playa...ooh whoopsie do do...I played under 7's rugby for St.Ives so stick that up ya pipe and smoke it ..lesser Robbo,,,yeah I said it..lesser!.

 

[winnyason]

Can't tackle? But you want Cust to start??? Hmmmm

I can deal with a missed tackle if he can create. As for croker he better suited to the vacant crookwell captain coach job

 

[winnyason]

Croker is crap. Please feel free to throw this back at me every week of the season. I'd love it if there was any justification. Can't pass. Can't read a game. Turns into a puddle of wee under pressure.

You missed hangs around footballers

 

[mave]

Croker will do his job, and do it well.
As has been noted numerous times last season, he has a bad habit of trying too hard (which can happen when you are bouncing around positions on a weekly basis).
If he starts at 9, I expect Croker to keep it simple and play his role, no more, no less.

I also understand that every Manly side needs a Silvertails whipping boy, and it is Crokers lot in life to carry that burden this season.

 

[manlyfan76]

How long until we give him the barrell test. If he floats he ain't a hooker and is sent to the Sth Australia league, if he sinks he is a serviceable dummy half?

Ill guess about the first trial for someone to make this a poll.

 

[Ryan]

I really feel for him. Played 6 & 7 as a junior. An under sized, but skilled (and quick) back. Represented NSW and Australia (and did well in that arena as well). Had huge wraps on him. Was about to get more 1st grade time with Canberra, and suffered a serious injury.

Comes to Manly, as a back, but due to injury, roster management, form, utility value, is forced to play out of position at dummy half. He (late last season) relegated a specialist Hooker back to the bench so he could start in the position.

He played 1/2, 5/8, hooker, with an array of players around him (3-4 different fullbacks), (2-3 different 5/8's), but a consistent half back, who in my opinion, was quite out of form (like the rest of the team).

He's determination from coming back from injury says a lot about his character. He played and bled (literally) for us. 90% of the time, he did everything that was asked of him, and agree, had a few clangers.

People forget he's 23, and only had 20-30 NRL games experience last year (probably 80% of these out of position, or having to change position during games due to players like Suli / Parker / Walker going down so often.

Can we PLEASE give him a chance guys? Okay, still being asked to play out of position. But a full off season of training at dummy half, rebuilding the body to suit that position. Let's see what he has in store for us.

I think we'll be pleasantly surprised. There's a lot to be said about character. The kid has plenty.